Simulated golfing hole



Nov. 9, 1965 s. A. WHITNEY 3,216,728

SIMULATED GDLFING HOLE Filed June 10, 1963 INVENTOR. GEORGE A. WHITNEY United States Patent 3,216,728 SIMULATED GOLFING HOLE George A. Whitney, 26 Overidge Road, Latham, NY. Filed June 10, 1963, Ser. No. 286,696 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-177) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved unit to be employed in a game of the golf type and by the use of which a pleasingly novel game procedure is achieved; the game being simultaneously enjoyed by any number of players operating as individuals, a single group or successive groups.

By means of the present teachings, a game of the golf type is provided which will not require a special preparation or modification of existing terrain with consequent expense. Rather, the game may be set up on an existing lawn or in a field with the expenditure of minimum effort and time.

The foregoing, therefore, provides the main object of the present invention. A subsidiary object is that of furnishing a unit which may readily be positioned not alone with reference to a given site, but also with reference to the location of adjacent units.

Of course, individual units may be used and a portion of the game enjoyed without employing additional units. In any event, no special tools will be required for the establishment of these units in desired locations.

Still another object of the invention is that of providing a unit, the component parts of which will be each individually simple and rugged in construction and capable of economical manufacture; the assembly in each instance having a long, effective life.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly providing a complete unit; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows, as indicated in FIG. 1.

In these views the numeral 5 indicates a pole which may be suitably ornamented to present an attractive appearance and also mount a flag or pennant to thus correspond to markers as employed in conventional golf courses. The lower end of the pole is preferably pointed, as indicated at 6, so that it may readily penetrate turf or earth. Its opposite end mounts a preferably rounded member 7 providing a hand-engaging surface such that pressure may be brought to bear upon it and cause the lower pole end to penetrate the earth.

A measuring device or gage is associated with the pole. As shown, it will include a preferably flexible body part 8 having suitably formed loops 9 and 10 at its opposite ends. Loop 9 may define a diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of pole 5 so that it may readily rotate around the latter. Loop -10 will serve as a measuring unit or gage. So used, the finger of a player may be inserted through this loop and the entire unit pivoted around the axis defined by pole 5 in accordance with procedures as hereinafter brought out.

A number of units of this type will comprise a set providing for a complete game involving, for example, from two to eighteen holes. A single unit may by itself be employed for a restricted version of the game. If a number of units are employed, then, conveniently, the length of the measuring devices may vary in accordance with the diificulties of the terrain or locations in which individual units are disposed. As afore brought out, hand pressure is all that will usually be necessary to locate a pole in a given site. For esthetic purposes the round hand-engageable unit 7 may simulate in appearance a golf ball.

The game will conveniently be played with more or less conventional golf clubs. It is preferred to employ balls of desirable size and which are conveniently light and made of plastic. This is because in a game as herein visualized it will be unnecessary to project the ball any great distance. Rather, with a tee located, for example, from ten to twenty yards from a given unit, par for that hole might be considered as involving two strokes. The first of these would have a carry of, for example, four-fifths of the total distance and the last or second stroke could be considered as a putt.

In the latter connection it would be contemplated that any ball coming to rest within the area embraced by the measuring device as it is pivoted around the pole would be considered as within the cup. Obviously, to determine whether the ball is within the area the measuring device would simply be swung around the pole.

As will be apparent, no difliculty will be experienced in removing the units or in relocating them. In such relocation, the radius defined by the individual measuring devices should be taken into consideration with respect to the difficulties of sequential unit locations. This, of course, will be true only if the measuring devices are of different lengths.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention, as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

I claim:

A game device for use with a golf ball and golf club including in combination a single pole, indicia means affixed to said pole, a central portion of said pole in the form of a substantially uniform cylinder, a pointed end of said pole, a rounded end of said pole, an underlying surface, said pointed end being formed to be piercingly removably received within said underlying surface upon the application of force to said rounded end in the direction of said pointed end, said underlying surface being capable of supporting said pole to project upwardly, a substantially flat elongated flexible member of predetermined length for defining the outer boundary of a circular putting cup area, a first loop formed at one end of said flexible member and having a circular opening with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said central portion, a finger receiving loop formed at the remaining end of said flat member and having a circular opening therein whereby said first loop can encircle said central portion and said flat member be rotated about said pole by the finger of a player received within said finger receiving loop and scribing a circle in said underlying surface having said pole in the center and said flat member being constructed and arranged to rest upon said underlying surface when said central portion is Within said first loop and occupy substantially less than 360 of the circle so scribed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,708 4/15 Osborn 273-477 1,426,215 8/22 Ravert. 1,498,870 6/24 Fox 3327 1,656,740 1/ 28 Kurtz 273180 1,730,176 10/29 Thrasher et al. 273-200 2,098,011 11/37 Osvold 27-3-104 2,103,428 12/37 Lutes 273- 127 2,629,935 3/ '53 Roe 33-137 FOREIGN PATENTS 253,188 6/ 26 Great Britain. 400,422 10/ 33 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

